Nóra Király

Climb ¦ Train ¦ Smile

My life got really busy somehow in the last weeks, even my university started last week. Classes, training, working and dog’s school is not easy together. I felt tired… sure that climbing/training weekend in Vienna was as needed as water, but I wasn’t in the best mood. Tired both physically and mentally. I was trying to survive until Thursday, when we were heading to Stuttgart. I was really excited to leave this busy world behind me and simply just enjoy the best event of the year. However, what I was looking forward the most was to meet all those missed people.

In August, I’ve spent a few days with my coach Vladek, and trained with Jara, Natalie, Rebekka a bit in Zürich, just before the Bouldering World Cup in Münich. Till that I got long distance online coaching, but basically we didn’t know each other. Since those days in Zürich I still get online coaching with a bittersweet taste, cause the distance feels more when you are friends. As a sensitive person it can be really hard on some days, but I am glad and thankful that I have such a sleepless coach, like Vladek.

The GORE-TEX Be a Rockstar boulder jam was on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a proper warm-up, but the happiness of being there was helping a lot. I knew that there were really strong girls, like Rebekka, but honestly this time I didn’t care about others (if you know me you know it is a really rare thing!). All I wanted was to enjoy and try my best on the 8 boulders. The problems were perfect, hard, but fun. 2 of them were really hard for me, but somehow managed to reach the top on them. It was such an incredible experience when I heard Natalie and Petra (Bouldering World Champion) screaming betas to me. I had to stop for a moment and made sure… yes, I could clearly hear my name they were really talking to me. 😀 I felt so special like I am in the team. Thank you girls!

There was a jump I couldn’t do… so I know my homework. I was happy, it was unexpected and actually it turned out a close round with Rebekka, she won the wildcard! So, Rebekka, Ajda and I qualified for Build Your Boulder final!

Shortly, after climbing Vladek came to me back in the Athlete Lounge and told me he was proud of me. Probably, it was the most touching moment of the weekend for me. I haven’t heard it often in my life, so I was very happy to make my coach happy and proud!

The Build Your Boulder final was on Saturday afternoon. We got the walls and our setting partners by draw. I got the wall No. 6 and Romain Desgranges as a partner. I was happy to team up with him. He tried his best by helping me.

Unfortunately, I got totally exhausted. I’ve never felt something like this before… headache, nausea, cold shivers, but I still felt happy cause it was an incredible experience, I tried my best as long as my body wanted me to do so. I was completely done. Ajda won it, Rebekka 2nd, I became 3rd. It was fun for sure!

I wasn’t feeling good, but made it back to the Arena to watch Adidas Rockstars finals. It didn’t disappoint, such a show! You had to watch really carefully, otherwise you might miss Tomoa’s superboulder climb! Amazing! 😀

Two years ago I took part in the GORE-TEX Be a Rockstar too. That was also a great competition, but impossible to compare with this year’s experience. It was mind-blowing! What’s the difference? Probably me, I feel less like a weirdo, and getting more into this fascinating climbing community, where you can share some words with people, or give/get a smile, a hug, a high five. So unique!

It is how I feel about my relationship with climbing. It can have its ups and downs, but all in all it is just LOVE! It’s spring and I’ve had a hard time behind me. I got injured after having probably the most successful season with reaching almost all my goals for 2016:

Climbed my first 8A boulder (In the Middle of the Ass) and another one ’The Hatchling’, both in Rocklands, South Africa.

And my first 8A+ boulder ’A Tea with Elmarie’ (Rocklands)

And felt a lot more confident on the IFSC competitions, somehow, I started to feel I belong to that family, as I’ve met more and more people during the year.

Then I started to feel something annoying in my shoulder. I thought it will go away as fast as it came at the end of August. Unfortunately, it didn’t… first I said, okay then I will not do the things where I can feel it, so I stopped doing pull ups… after that TRX… and at the end even Thera Band exercises… This was the point where I got scared, cause my shoulder hurt even during walking or sleeping. I visited a physiotherapist (AlpinMedix), who was really helpful and sent me to a doctor. It turned out I had tendinitis in the long head of my biceps. I was not allowed to climb for 2 months, and the worst part was that I had to do nothing just taking anti-inflammatory drugs, some ultrasound treatment, taping and waiting. That time really tested my nerves and patience. Visiting the climbing gym and watching climbers having fun when you are not allowed to touch the holds or doing any exercises, that’s cruel! Then it got a lot better when I could start to do the physio exercises. I felt tired, destroyed after the sessions, simply it just felt like training and I loved it. 🙂 I could see some glimpse at the end of a long road. My form before the injury was way too far still. As the weeks passed I got a lot more familiar with my physio exercises.

I just had to be very careful, cause tendinitis use to be really stubborn and it can come back quite easily. Balancing between the efficient amount of load but not too much was nerve-racking! One day my physio said that I can try to make one pull up. Oh man, a single pull up never felt that sweet before! Soon I was allowed to start climbing on vertical walls without any shouldery move. I was happy that I can climb, of course. However, facing that you got so much weaker and your climbing is very limited was annoying and sad.

And the final of the Boulder Bundesliga was coming soon. I was hesitating if I should join it or not. In the end, I took away my fear of failing and decided to go for it. I changed my mind and started to see this event as a good thing. I could test my shoulder, climbed really nicely set interesting problems and a massive amount of fun. Even I got into the big final! I was happy, but during the final I was suffering from lack of skin. I realised how much weaker I got… especially my fingers. It was frustrating! But my shoulder and biceps were working. And that was the point!

I decided to start my training in January. Until that I wanted to give my body more time to get back some power, finger strength and the moves without limit. In January after I finished my exam period I decided to visit Café Kraft in Nürnberg. Just to get that extra push and motivation. I spent there a week. I like these one week training camps. I can focus only to myself and my training. Quality time. I climbed, practiced my footwork and stretched a lot. Training is going so much better when you are surrounded by that much positivity and really supportive people who dare to give you a smile and a good cup of coffee. 🙂 Thank you, Café Kraft for being my happy place, my shelter, my home!

During my time in Nürnberg, I visited another gym, Der Steinbock with my friend, Manu. I’ve met Florian there who gave me a crash course about climbing slabs, tricky volume problems and some coordination stuff. It was great to learn from someone who is doing amazing things you are not good at. So, I came home pretty psyched and ready to train hard again.

I almost forgot about my awesome X-mas present from Tibi. 6 days in Barcelona! It was great to escape from the ice age and spend there almost a week in the sunny 10-15 degrees Barcelona. We continued training there, met our friends Cristina and Gerard, and walked endless kilometres in the city. I love Barcelona!

After this little holiday with good training, we decided to go for another weekend full of training at Mandala, in Dresden. Some people from my training group joined us. Mandala is a perfect gym to practice those tricky competition climbing style. All of us had a lot of fun, we lost a lot of skin but we got so psyched. It was nice to see how recharged, happy and motivated my team became. Totally the same effects that I feel after these training days. I really think these training weekends are necessary. It helps to keep up the motivation, the fun and open up your eyes to see on what level the bouldering is. I believe there is an increasing gap between the world’s and Hungarian competition climbing. We can’t hide our heads in the sand. I suggest all the youth to go, experience more abroad, work hard and never give up. I know it is demanding financially, but unfortunately our opportunities are limited in Hungary. This is what I am working on, first to try to stop increasing this gap, then to decrease it.

The first Hungarian Bouldering Cup was in the middle of February. I felt this comp a bit too early as I’ve just started to train in January. However, I thought it is a great possibility to test how my climbing is. And how I deal with a real competition situation mentally. More than 30 girls came. It was a record by the number of starters. I felt that 22 boulders in the qualification a bit too much. I did 20 of them and got into the final on first place. Before the final I was nervous, I felt tired. Luckily, I calmed down on the first problem, then I just gave everything I got. Oh God, how much I enjoyed climbing there. A lot of people were cheering me, even some people from my training group came just to see and support ME during the finals. I flashed 3 out of 4 problems. The feeling of that night was priceless!!! 🙂

At the end of February, 4 of us (Tibi, my brother and Zoli) went for a Boulder Bundesliga weekend to Siegen and Gießen. I like the idea of the Bundesliga. You visit gyms you’d probably never, you climb great, special problems, you meet new people every time. I think it is a great training, even if you have to do 2 gyms in one weekend. 😀

We are back at home, everything is normal again, balancing between my university, my trainings and working with my training group. It keeps me quite busy and sometimes I wish I’d have more than 24 hours on a day. However, I think I am on the road. I learnt a lot during the last months. About patience, myself, training (all those tiny muscles too), the importance of smaller, short term goals in order to reach the bigger long term ones and to keep up the motivation. And how important to surround yourself with the right people who motivates you. For example, I was invited for a live interview before the Reel Rock Tour in November with Tamás Zupán, Zupi the strongest boulderer in Hungary. Both of us were so nervous to speak in front of the crowd. In the end, we even enjoyed it. 🙂 That was the beginning of a good thing. We discussed that we should talk more without this big crowd. Since that we are meeting more often, he is really kind and supportive. His positivity also gave me energy to work hard. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing all your hard work pays off. Supporting each other by heart is really important!

So, I’d like to thank everyone who helped me during these hard months! Tibi, my family, my incredible training group, Zupi, my physio, and all my friends! Thank you for being there for me and bringing some ray of light into the darkest days! I know it was not easy sometimes… 😀

When I started my new training schedule in November with a new coach, Davi June seemed really far. But here we go, it’s June! During these months I tried to focus on my one and only goal, Rocklands and train for it as hard as I can. I have to tell you it wasn’t as easy as it seems.

In the beginning I was really excited and happy that I have a good plan. I started to see how fast my finger strength and my general performance improved.

Even there was a month when I had to do a lot of physical and mental exercises (like visualization) but not really climbing. That was a really hard month mentally. In February I started to feel that my body is very tired. I got some tendon injury in my palm, it hurt a bit but I continued climbing and training with a big awareness. I changed my grip position and I couldn’t feel the pain in my palm. But cause of this unusual grip position I got climber’s elbow (~golfer’s elbow). I taped it and it was good. I continued training and climbing but really carefully. If I felt the move is not good I didn’t force it.

This time my motivation was down. I was worried that I can get even more injured. I was sad and disappointed. Maybe I am not able to train hard… I felt I really need something to move on and see the light in the end of the tunnel.

In March my brothers, Zoli, Tibi and I went to an outdoor adventure, to boulder a week in Chironico and Cresciano. I had no real expectations since I had injuries. I was surprised but really happy to see that my fingers are much stronger. I had a great time there with a good company. Even on the last day I could send Komilator (7C+), which one I couldn’t do last year. It gave me back the hope that I am in a good direction.

In April I made a quick decision to take part in the first stage of the Bouldering World Cup Cirquit in Meiringen. You know, these big events always has a very special feeling. Surprisingly, this time I felt much more belonging there, competing with the strongest and best athletes in the world. It was a great experience to finally not feeling like a stranger. In the past I had problems with my confidence but in Meiringen I had real fun during the hard qualification. I was still unexperienced but brave enough to make the first step out of my comfort zone on a big event. Probably the friendly athmosphere in Meiringen helped me a lot. I felt that it was a big achevement. Progress! 😊

In the end of the month I had a trip to Siurana, Spain. Yes I climbed with rope for the first time of the year… There was a photoshoot with 3rd Rock for the next spring/summer’s collection. I’ve never met the 3rd Rock team before but I had a strong feeling that they must be really good people. They were really over of my imagination. We had a great time together. Despite I am a boulderer I still had fun on long routes. One day we went to Margalef, it was amazing with all the pockets. Even I got injured there on my big toe (thanks Jerome for handling the situation 😊), I loved that place and really thinking to go back to Margalef once again. I just can’t wait the next trip with you, guys!

After this I spent 5 days in Barcelona, mostly with Cristina and Gerard. Also Tibi came for the weekend. The city is beautiful and amazing with all the narrow streets, small shops, tapas bars and probably the best ice cream in my life. However, it seems like a holiday I trained hard with Gerard and other strong local guys. Gerard’s training was totally different and new for me. His strategy was to keep saying there is just uno más exercise, but that exercise took 1 more hour. I was so exhausted that I barely could eat with forks and knives but I was happy. One day we visited the Sharma Climbing gym all together, even Jessica, Guy and the cutest baby, Oren came. All in all, Barcelona was stunning. Huge thanks to Cristina, Gerard and the 3 cats who made it more special!

When I was back I felt great, full of motivation. I continued the hard trainings and everything went well. I felt in a good shape and good mind.

In the end of May I planned to go to Café Kraft and focus on more training. Unfortunately before the trip I got ill. However I wanted to go to Nürnberg. So after a challanging night train journey with refugies and a massive almost 2 hours delay, I arrived to Café Kraft. I spent there a week and got back in shape quite fast. The 45er Magnum set by Alex Megos was great! If you want to get strong it is perfect for body tension and also for finger strenght. And you can always find there some company, new young titans or even Patrick, one of the Gimme Kraft coaches. Different people, but the goal is the same… To get more KRAFT. And these guys are psyched which is quite sticky. Last evening the staff of Café Kraft had a Bbq, they also invited me. It was a great last evening for me! Thank you Café Kraft, Hannes, Pino, Reto and everybody there for making it possible! And special thanks to Kai and Marc for everything! See all of you next time.

So this is how my journey was till June. Now I am sitting at home, packing and trying to not forget anything home. It is so unreal that we are going to Rocklands today. I am really excited. I think I did almost everything I could, even some diet. I feel ready and definitely stronger than last year. Rocklands here we come! 😊

A few weeks ago, I had a rest week, I did other sports, like squash; and it was so different to watch a competition and not take part in it.

I had a long season and I feel that I really needed this week to recharge after a lot of training, climbing and unfortunately I also had some not so serious, but more frustrating injuries during the year.

In the summer I went to Rocklands, South Africa, with my boyfriend Tibi and Zoli. We spent there 3 and a half amazing weeks. I’ve met great people, new places. It was so peaceful, with beautiful sunsets, and really dark nights with the Milky Way. We stayed at the campsite, close to the nature. We climbed a lot, and on the rest days we tried to discover some other places. For example, we hiked up to the Table Mountain, visited Cape Point, checked some penguins at the Boulders Beach, saw some baboons. I’ve never felt this freedom before. It was really sad to come home, and definitely 3 and a half weeks are not enough for Rocklands. I had a big challenge during almost the all trip. I injured my left knee, and due to this injury I couldn’t make a heel hook with it. First, I was sad, but then it became more like a challenge, how to solve problems without my favourite heel hooks. My right toe hook technic developed a lot. 🙂 It was a kind of fun.

The boulders I’ve sent:

Macho King 7C+

Caroline 7C+

An Amal Roof 7C

Black Spider 7C (flash)

Un petit Hueco dans Rocklands 7B+ (f)

The Rhino 7B+ (2nd)

Panic Room Direct 7B (f)

The Potato Problem 7B (f)

Lolita 7B (f)

Question of Balance 7B (2nd)

Then I had a national boulder cup, and after it, I went to Café Kraft to get more Kraft. 🙂 8 days of training camp. I had a nice time, it was too hot there, but the gym is air-conditioned, so I could train a lot and swim at the beach to cool down a bit. On a sunny Saturday, I had an amazing and really motivating training partner, Mayan Smith-Gobat. Here is a video of our training:

And the top of everything, I became a member of The Café Kraft Team. It is a huge honor. It was awesome to have Café Kraft as a home.

I took part in the World Cup in Munich. I felt much stronger than last year, but still unexperienced on big events.

I went to Magic Wood in the end of August with Tibi, my brother András and Zoli. The rain was really frustrating and unfortunately I injured my right index finger, and I couldn’t crimp this small crimp of Down Under anymore. I was disappointed and angry. But we met 2 great guys from Brazil, Davi and Linha. 🙂

During the autumn I visited the Café Kraft 2 times. The 2nd time I had a training camp again. I had the chance to touch some rock at Bärenschlucht with Dicki. I haven’t climbed with a harness on for a really long time. I got pumped, but so pumped.. I tried to train as much as I could, and I had a great training partner, Davi. Training partners are so important, you can motivate each other during the hard days, when you feel really tired and not too happy about the hangboard day. One day, I was totally tired, but Hannes came and spoke about his projects for the next year. He was super happy and positive. His motivation just sticked on me and I woke up, and did a killer hangboard with Davi. This is how it works at Café Kraft, in the heart of the Frankenjura. Thanks again for everything, and for the place to stay, Hotel Frankenjura! 🙂

This year I won the Hungarian National Boulder Championship again.

I took part in the 10th Autopolis Vertigo Open in Bratislava, and became 3rd. I was horrible in the qualis (I couldn’t sleep the night before and had some stomach problems), but I really enjoyed the final problems.

After all of these, I decided to have to take a week rest, before starting my new training plan.

Now, I am training hard, I think harder than ever before since almost 3 weeks (it has a 4 week periodisation). I have 5 trainings a week, I feel totally tired at the moment, lack of skin (Monkey Fist addict). Sometimes I feel so broken in the morning, but I know that I have my goal, I am committed to it. And of course, I am really interested in the result. The sweat, the time, the devotion. It pays off. 😉

Thanks to my sponsors, 3rd Rock, Boreal, Café Kraft and Monkey Fist for all the support this year! And also to my family, Tibi and my friend, Davi!

„The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Oprah Winfrey

Tomorrow, we are going to Rocklands, South Africa! Finally! During the last months, I was training a lot, I took part some competitions too.

March,

I became a proud ambassador of 3rd Rock, it’s an eco activewear brand. 🙂

Adidas Boulder Cup at the Aupark in Bratislava. I like this competition in the shopping centre, even Sasha Digiulian visited it and made a presentation on Saturday evening. Friendly, helpful people, I love competing in Slovakia. I finished 2nd and won the duel competition. My brother made also final. 🙂 First time I had Boreal Satori on my feet, and I could hardly believe how small holds I used with them. Imagine how small if I couldn’t hold it with my nails. Unfortunately, I strained my ankle in the qualification round at this move:

I didn’t take it serious enough and that’s why the next 2 months were annoying. After some climbing it became painful, purple, and couldn’t wear my climbing shoes any longer.

April,

Our training group, AKA „Izomagyak”, went back to Café Kraft for more Kraft (power).We had a freezing time during the nights in the camping, even it was snowing when we packed our tent. We trained, climbed, had a lot of fun, and finally I met Dicki and his family too. 🙂 Nürnberg is full of history, I am always shocked by it. The Congress Hall, incredibly monumental building, like the Colosseum in Rome… I went there with my brother and our friend Dávid (while Tibi and Zoli ran around the lake). Usually we are having fun and joking, but walking into such a historic monumental building… deep silence, respect for the history and architecture.

Next weekend, the first Hungarian Boulder Cup, Monkey Maraton. It was very well organised with a lot of volumes and tricky problems. I felt strong, confident and happy that I was the only girl, who topped the slab problem in the final. I won the competition and a really cool mokey shaped cup. 🙂 It was nice to win in the home gym!

One week later, the next Hungarian Boulder Cup in Kecskemét: I was happy to compete with Laura, the 18 years old Hungarian queen of crossfit, after a long time. We spoke a lot about her training and diet. It was very motivating and inspiring! Respect!

May,

I spent a long training weekend with Tibi and Zoli in Munich. We visited both Boulderwelts there. 🙂

I took part in the European Bouldering Championship in Innsbruck. This city is beautiful! I met the first 3rd Rock ambassador, Valeri Kremer, she is such a nice person. She supported me a lot, thank you Valeri, also for the pictures! 🙂

I was not happy with my performance. It was frustrating to be the last starter on the list. 🙂 On the 3rd boulder bad luck came with a pretty shouldery move or maybe my shoulder is not strong enough, and I forced it still… In the end, at the last problem I was not able to lift my left hand above my shoulder. I was so disappointed, angry, frustrated, and sad! I needed some time to deal with all these feelings.

June,

Gi Boulder Jam, the 3rd Hungarian Cup. It took place at the Margaret Island, in heart of Budapest, great place, but it was too hot to enjoy our qualification round. It was more about surviving the heat. There was 2 hours delay with the finals, but it was better for us, cause the air cooled down a bit. The final was real fun climbing, I flashed all the boulders and won the competition. 🙂 My brother finished 2nd at men’s category. I wished my parents would come to see us climbing. I felt satisfied, happy and proud of the Király family’s performance. 🙂 Even my shoulder was happy, cause there were just really few shouldery moves..

During these months, I learnt a lot. Training harder has a lot of advantages, like I can clearly see the result of my work, the progression, it makes me happy. However, everything has a dark side, cause injuries can happen easily and dealing with them is hard. My ankle injury took 2 months to heel, and just right after this shoulder problem is annoying. I am trying to strengthen it with Theraband, and some other exercises, but I am really careful with it. I hope my shoulder is stronger now, and everything will be fine on my trip to Rocklands.

I learnt my lesson: listen to your body, if it’s tired don’t force it, drink enough water, and if injury happen be patient, take your time, let it heal. Respect your body, cause you are not a machine!

Surely, the adventure of the year starts tomorrow! So excited! Budapest-Dubai-Cape Town-Rocklands!

Thank you to my sponsors! 3rd Rock for all my new clothes! I love S/S 15 collection! And Boreal for my new climbing and trail running shoes!

It has been a long time, since I didn’t write here. However, the life didn’t stop. Now, it’s 2015. I feel much stronger than a year ago. Physically and mentally too. For me 2014 was the year of changes. After the last Hungarian boulder cup in October, I felt totally tired of competing. I was disappointed in the Hungarian competition system, despite I won the National Boulder Championship. With this sweet sour taste in my mouth, I decided to not take part in lead comps, just focus on training. I felt broken, needed to take some time and I wanted to come back stronger. During the last months training became my shelter. I found a nice, motivated team to work with. It is fun together, even on the hardest training days as we help each other. And it’s highly motivating to see the other’s performance from my group. Zoli ran a half-marathon even on the coldest day, with this he kicked my ass to go out and run if it’s cold or not. It works!

We went to the Café Kraft in the end of October, for a long weekend. I missed everybody from there a lot. I was so happy to hug Dicki, Alex and my friends once again. I met Ben Rueck, I heard a lot about him. It was fun to climb with him a red problem. So friendly! I am always sad when I leave a place where I found happiness, and I still don’t know when I can go back. Hopefully soon!

I had a great semester at the uni. I did all my exams. And the practice at the psychiatric department was great with my Nigerian girls. It is such a nice feeling to hear when a suicide patient thanks you to bring some cheer and smile into their lieves. Helping people in need is awesome!

If you remember I had a bet with Charlie, who will make one arm pull up earlier. I won it two days before it turned to 2015. I wasn’t train for it, I just tried how it is. I was in the end of my training plan and I did something I’ve never done before. Good sign!

In January, I started my training plan again, it will end in May. I am really curious about the result, because this time I could start from a higher base than ever.

This year I would like to take part in some serious competitions and spend more time climbing outside. Next summer I’m going to The Rocklands, South Africa with Tibi!!! I’m so excited! I haven’t travelled that far for a really long time. Finally, I will see my friends, Charlie and Tim there! I just can’t wait. I have to sleep 137 nights more..

Until that I continue training, studying and trying to follow my dreams.

On the 7th of July evening I arrived home after a really special touching and magical trip. It was one of the best times in my life. Maybe it sounds cliché, but just imagine: you travel a lot, meet your friends and new friends, climbing, having fun. What else do you need? Emotions to the brim. I was a bit sad that this time passed, but curious about the next! ☺On the 26th of June morning, I was so excited to return to Nürnberg by a train & bus combination. It was my second time at Café Kraft. And the miracle happened again! ☺
I spent 11 awesome days there, I trained at Café Kraft. Thank you, Hannes and Reto for everything! And everyone from Café Kraft! ☺
And I got the chance to go to the Frankenjura with the most motivating and supporting team I’ve ever had. Mayan, Dicki and Alex, you are the best! Thank you for these days! You made me so happy and honestly, I felt like I am home. I miss you!

I am so happy to have a summer like this! I travelled a lot; meet my friends and new ones, lot of new experiences, and fun. Maybe it is a bit late, but all the memories in my mind are as clear as, they’ve just happened…

I think it would be too long to write about everything. A lot of thing happened to me there. We climbed a lot of course. But I went to a festival with Dicki and his family, and supported Dicki and Patrick on a 10 km running race. Dicki was so fast! Congratulations! We went there by bike…Can you imagine how hard is to ride a bike in a mini leather skirt? After this experience, I can tell you, it’s really hard. ☺ But I felt like it’s the best choice for the night for a rock concert. And yes in the end of the concert, even I was jumping a bit! But Dicki, his wife and their friends were dancing really cool. There is always something to learn! ☺ Dicki always brings the sunshine into my life! Such a happy night!!!I had an awesome training session with Achim at Café Kraft. After it we had a massive muscle strain. He is so friendly and helpful; even I got a giant cookie, after a long day. I bet on that Achim would get the „Our best worker 2014” award, if there was one. Or Lena… ☺It was the first time, when I saw how a real climbing movie is made. They told me all the ingredients what you need:
• Interviews
• Climbing
• and some bugs ☺This day also I studied the most important thing. Always look good! Dicki was so happy when he saw Alex’s cool red pants and yellow T-shirt. Dicki said it took a long time (years), but finally, it worths it. Really stylish. Geil.We had a cool barbecue together at Alex; He is the master of BBQ. ☺On the next day Alex and Mayan took me to Leupoldstein. Such a great day! If Mayan supports..cool..and simply just works. Alex were laying on the top of the rock, watched down and helped me from there. Maximal support! It’s not possible to give more! Thank you! Or even so..Alex taught me a faster and simpler knot. ☺I had one rest day during the 11 days. I went to the Doku Zentrum. Impressive museum! It really worths to visit if you are in Nürnberg. I found quite interesting The Nürnberg Trials. In the evening Alex took me to the theatre to watch his sister. It was funny… I don’t speak german..but it was a comedy, so mostly I got it. ☺ It was fun, thank you for the invitation Alex!On the days when I couldn’t go to climb outside. For example, Dicki went to Imst to the Paraclimbing World Cup. Or Alex went to his sister’s Abibal. Or I just missed the meeting with Mayan and Alex because of a 50 minutes delay of the train. I was angry! :S So on those days, I went to Café Kraft, the best place for training. Great opportunities and the best is that you can always find motivated guys to train with.

Dicki sent me this pic with Andris (the only Hungarian paraclimber) from Imst

On my last day I wanted to see my friends one more time. I went to climb with Alex. It was a pleasure to belay him on one of his projects. Then Dicki and Mayan arrived. Finally! And I met Felix Neumarker. I don’t know how they feel but for me surely the happiest climbing day!I spent my last night at Alex and his family, also Felix stayed there. Alex and Felix together are unbelievable funny. Monday I had a really early bus, at 5:45. Alex took me to the bus station, and he didn’t let me to carry my luggage. He is absolutely a gentleman! I cannot be glad enough!!Somehow leaving Nürnberg seems the hardest for me. How did I feel? Like a hurricane in my head, all the feelings were turning around. I had a big fight with my tears.. I watched up to the sky, tried to calm down. No, impossible. The feeling enchanted me. I lost the fight.. I cried. What a crazy fairy tale?Thank you all my friends, for all the support, for place to sleep, and for everything I got. You made me really happy!!! ☺
I just can’t wait to see you again!

Part II

I just spent 2 days at home. Then I was on my way again. This time with Tibi and the destination was Magic Wood. Second time this year! ☺ We were really excited to meet our friends from Wales, Charlie and Tim!Magic Wood was wet, so the next day we went to Chironico with a quite big and crazy group. Charlie said that we should try Powerstrips (7C). It is with a quite crimpy beginning and a really high slabby top out. You know, a kind of boulder when you think, ok I did the crux, you feel happy, but then you realize it’s so high and that tree behind your back is really close… maybe too close… Simply just scary! But we did it! ☺ Huge respect to Charlie! Once she did the crux, she was at the scary-slabby top out part and she got panic (Tim helped her… like Romeo… just climbed up on the tree and saved her… Was so romantic! And after this frightening try, she tried again and did it. What fortitude! It was her first 7C, congrats! We were so happy!

Powerstrips (7C)

In the end of this day we wanted to check one more boulder, Autopilot 7B. Nice roof problem with a double heel hook. It was totally dark in the forest; we saw some lighting flies, so beautiful. Gracie sent Autopilot! ☺ My heel slipped off and I landed just next to the pad on the rock with my tibia. Was so painful, bloody and scary! I got some antiseptic tissue from Gracie, thank you! Charlie and I decided to come back to this one on another day!Next day we stayed at Magic Wood, mostly I just checked around, how it is, a lot of things were wet still. I was happy to flash The Mummy (7B). At the end of the day, we joined Charlie, Tim, Linda, Niels and Jack for a dinner. For the restaurant we had to cross a quite high mountain with full of turns and cows. ☺ And what did we find on the other side? Italy! Montespluga, and a friendly Italian restaurant next to a lake. So pretty place! And the best Italian food so far! It was the ‘Good bye-dinner’ of Charlie and Tim. We ate almost everything… pizza, ice cream, coffee, maybe too much, but I was really happy that night!

On the way to Montespluga, the best place to eat a pizza

Then, on the last day of Charlie and Tim, we went back to Chronico. We did some warm up, and then went for Autopilot. Charlie did it easily! But my right heel wasn’t fit for that small place. And in bad times you can see who your friend is. Charlie offered me her right shoe. And guess what? I did Autopilot with this combination of shoes. ☺ Thank you! After this we tried Selection Door 7A, really nice problem with a reach move but I did it with my ‘long’ left arm! 😉

Autopilot (7B)

Selection Door (7A)

Charlie and I bet on who is going to make a one arm pull up earlier. Don’t forget it Charlie!!! ☺

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/101287250]

Charlie and I bet on who is going to make a one arm pull up earlier. Don’t forget it Charlie!!! ☺

On Monday our friends left. However I was really excited, cause my brother came with a group of young Hungarian guys!
We had 3 great climbing days together. My brother and our friend Zoli climbed Jack the chipper (7C).

Tibi bought a small grill for 5 euros before the trip… and it worked very well. We had a really tasty dinner… finally not pasta!Next day, we climbed just next to Zilliman (a cool 7A), Waldbrand 7C. My brother, András and I did it on second try. I felt really happy.
In the end of the day we refreshed ourselves in the river. Was so damn cold! But you know, in a big group it is getting more fun and challenge than a freezing nightmare. And the feeling after this cold refreshing water is priceless. You feel clean, fresh like a rebirth.On the last day we were suffering from lack of skin. Fortunately we found Minisex 7C in the forest, looked like a really cool problem! And yes, it was so much fun. Technical problem in a roof and you need to dance around with your feet, with a toe hook and a top out. I did it in 4 tries (my brother also) and the only point was to concentrate on your left biceps, so I was speaking to it in my mind: ‘Come on, hold me!’ It worked! ☺
After Minisex I tried Piranha but couldn’t do the big move… and I finished for this day. But my brother did Intermezzo 7C on his second try.

Piranha

We spent nice days in Magic Wood but it was time to leave to France. However we would like to go back as soon as possible.So we continued our trip in L’Argentière-la-Bessée. We stayed in a camping which had a warm shower too. Luxury! ☺
On Sunday we climbed in Freissinières. Soma found a quite short 7A+ with a small roof. It was a quite tricky one, it was fun to climb with him. And you know when you are with a group of young guys… they have a lot of (sometimes too much) jokes. Like here this No Name 7a+ after a misunderstanding became 7 anus… Got it? ☺

Soma and the beta

In the evening, we went to watch the finals of the Lead World Cup in Briancon. We were there, but the weather didn’t let it happen. The rain and hail washed the competition away. We were disappointed, and really without dry clothes or shoes… after it the hot tea was so good in the tent.

I watched the European Youth Bouldering Cup in L’Argentiére. My brother was a bit unlucky; he fell from the top on 3 problems. Our friend, David Firnenburg climbed very well in the qualification round. After it he said to us: He is going to flash all the 4 final problems. Guess what? He did it!! Amazing performance! ☺

My Bro’

Later we took part in the open competition, Tout A Blocs with a lot of boulders. Unfortunately I got a bit injured. My left elbow moved into the wrong way. So I visited the physiotherapist’s tent, just next to the boulder wall. He said my body and my muscles are dehydrated, all I should do: Drink and Relax! Next time I should be more careful, and drink enough! However I had a big fight with boulder 22, I fell from the top 3 times. The crowd was amazing, and Christopher, the speaker said if I do it, he will give me a beer. This way I got it:

It was a nice trip, but time to go home! ☺

Part III

In the end of August, one of the biggest climbing events came. The IFSC Bouldering World Championship in Munich!
Last year, I decided to take part in it because I saw my brother’s pictures from a youth cup with the national T-shirt and my memories came to my mind. Old times, good times!I went there with Tibi. I was impressed. Such a serious and huge event! I had no expectations! I just wanted to participate as the only Hungarian. It was a good experience. I learnt a lot. Bouldering developed a lot in the last few years. It became more acrobatic, dynamic and much more spectacular, with a lot of volumes, jumps and compression climbing. Looks like fun. Actually it is, but so hard if you don’t have volumes, and experience in this kind of bouldering. I felt really amateur. I think if you are a top boulder competitor, you need all the power: strength, endurance, explosive power, body tension and practice a lot this special kind of bouldering. The venue and the crowd were amazing! During the competition, you could buy special CAC (Climbers Against Cancer) T-shirts to support a good cause, also I got one from Tibi. It was a real pleasure to see the power of this huge crowd! John Ellison, founder of CAC, was so touched by the crowd’s support during the Climbers Against Cancer donation of €13333 to cancer research, just before the finals. ☺ Emotional moments! In the isolation zone I met Sean McColl, after a really long time. He was friendly and asked me about my future plans, if I will start competing again or not. Great question! I think boulder world cups are hard when you don’t have the best opportunities. However I enjoyed the competition, so I want to give it a try. I will train smart with these possibilities, as Dicki said: ‘Train smart, climb hard!’ I won’t cry more about what I don’t have. I am glad about my life; I think it is a really special and awesome one!

In addition, a few Hungarian boulder gyms developed with different kind of training equipments and also they just got some triangle volumes. I am excited about the future! After Munich we went to Follonica, Italy. To relax, take some sun, and swim in the sea.

On our way back to Hungary, we stopped in Vienna. I had a special meeting with Ognian from Boreal. I haven’t seen him for a really long time! And the times when we met were priceless. So, simply I was just excited. We went for a nice boulder session to Boulderbar, and then for a lunch. It was so nice to see him again! And I just can’t wait to try the new Boreal climbing shoes! I have a special connection with Boreal. I got my first climbing shoes as a Christmas present, a pair of Boreal Stinger. Since that time (2000), I only climb in Boreal shoes. And I am proud to be a member of the Boreal Team.

Now, I am back in Hungary. It’s September, so time to study and train as well! But I wish everyone such an intensive, emotional and happy summer like I had! ☺

Everything started with an e-mail to Café Kraft. Then I was sitting on the bus, heading to Nürnberg. It took 11 hours to get there. Fortunately, my friend, Dezső came to pick me up at the middle of the night. Dezső and Ramona let me to stay with them at Roth, thanks!! I arrived at 02.30, and I had a meeting with Dicki Korb, one of the authors of Gimme Kraft! book. I could sleep only 3 hours, but I was super excited and I decided to try to do my best.I was at Café Kraft around 10, so I had 1 hour untill the meeting. When I entered into Café Kraft, I just walked around and I couldn’t believe my eyes, it’s just huge and amazing.And then Dicki came. First he thought, I am from Bulgaria, I really don’t know why, but it was funny. I had amazing time with Dicki. He has a huge heart and inexhaustible amount of jokes. 🙂 I think the best thing in Dicki is that he knows a lot of exercises, but he also has a special personality. He really wants to help you. He gives his heart with the useful exercises and tips, too. For me, the best thing was that I was not alone anymore with my training. He was there, just next to me, he pushed me, and supported my low self confidence. He believes in me. After that I was just happy, and started to think positive about myself. I guess there is no better word for this feeling, simply just PRICELESS.I trained 3 days at Café Kraft before Magic Wood. In these days I met a lot of new friends, Ramona, who smiled a lot, and her rats (Amy, Réka). Achim and almost all the workers of Café Kraft. Everyone was friendly and helpful.

Amy (Ramona’s rat) and Tibi

I had the chance to climb with Mayan, we worked on a black travers, it was cool. She is a really nice person. And I mean nice inside and outside, cause she has a good heart and a lot of amazing, colorful clothes. 🙂 It was quite motivating to climb together. I’m happy to meet her, and I hope to see her soon!I met Hannes and Reto, they are awesome!! I got a really cool box of gifts, and the chance to train here more in the future. THANK YOU FOR ALL! 🙂

After these unbelievable days at Café Kraft, I went with Tibi to Magic Wood. The weather was so cold (-4 degrees at night), but I got a really warm jumper from Ramona, I guess, it saved my life. Thanks again!

Magic Wood was my first real outdoor boulder trip. I went there without expectations. I just wanted to have fun and enjoy climbing. I was still under the feelings, that I got from Dicki and Café Kraft. Magic Wood was beautiful, even with the half wolf-dog. 🙂 I climbed a lot and met new people there, too. My favourite couple from Wales, Charlie and Tim. We spent really nice days together. And a special thanks to Charlie to show me nice boulders. Like La Boume de Luxe (7b) with the sharp spike, and specially for Exclusive (7b). Even I didn’t want to climb that day, because of my shoulder pain, but it looked so cool, when Charlie climbed it. 🙂 Charlie and Tim showed us how to make perfect MARSHMALLOW. Such a great night!

Marshmallow night

For one day we were 6. Charlie, Tim, Tom, Tim (actually Timothy), Tibi and me. This was the funniest day in Magic Wood. We climbed a lot, and Timothy asked our names all day long, between every blocks; Hi Tim, I am Nóra, I am 23 years old. We did the really high Blue Sky of Mine. Tim’s shoe fell into the deepest hole of a hole, then Tim fell into a hole (Don’t worry, he is fine!), we had a lot of fun, and this day we tried Jack the chipper (7c) together. I liked it, it starts with a long shouldery move to the left. I felt that I can do it, I was close, but I got tired. However, I really wanted to do it, so it was my first real project in my life. 🙂

We had some rainy days, so we visited Lago di Lei with Tibi. For me it was beautiful, for Tibi scary. 🙂 And unfortunately Charlie and Tim went home. 🙁 I was a bit sad, but we will meet again, I am sure!

I met David Firnenburg, he is so strong and so friendly. While we climbed together, I learnt these:
· body-tension
· explosive-power
· just go for it
· how to get the best friction 🙂
· and that we need to warm up for jumping down 🙂

We warmed up together, climbed a slab, jump down, then a 7a+ travers, and then I was ready to try Jack the chipper again. After David’s siesta, I did it! I was so happy 🙂 Thanks to Tibi and David for the support! We lost David’s red tape, there was a serious investigation (Detective Tibi checked his videos). Guess, where was the red tape? It was really deep in a hole. What a surprise! :)We decided to leave Magic Wood after 10 days, cause the weather forecast said more rainy days. I had a lot of new experiences about bouldering outside, and I have more new friends. I have new records: Jack the chipper, and that I didn’t have a real shower for 10 days, but I’m not too proud of the 2nd one. :)So, we went back to Café Kraft. 4 more days to train there, woohoo! It was a pleasure to meet Dicki’s family. Also Mayan was there again, I met Melissa le Nevé and Alex Megos. They were really friendly, too. There was no chance to climb with Alex, he climbed too fast :), all the sienna (the hardest) boulders in one hour, and in the next hour all the reds (hard). He said that he is just a man. I really don’t know, maybe from an other planet. Amazing performance! 🙂

During these 4 days we climbed a lot, almost all of us was destroyed somehow, but I enjoyed it so much. For me Café Kraft is much more than a huge boulder gym, it’s like a huge family. We had a lot of fun together, we had new ideas. For example, about Dicki’s new books: Gimme Balance, Gimme Flexibility, Gimme Hot Pants or Gimme Food. :)I got much more than I could ever imagine, maybe that’s why I cried a bit when I left Café Kraft. These were the tears of happiness! 🙂 I really don’t like to say goodbye.Thank you for all these amazing feelings! Thank you, Dicki, Café Kraft, and all of my new friends! I just can’t wait to come back and see you again! 🙂